Burro's Tail

Sedum morganianum

Vining & TrailingEasy–ModerateSlow🐾 pet-safe

Good to know: A Mexican native whose braided-looking tails can trail several feet after a decade, which makes old specimens heirlooms. Every bead it sheds is a propagation opportunity, so pot up the fallen ones.

Through the year 🗓️

☀️ Summer now

Give it its brightest, most undisturbed spot; shield from scorching afternoon sun through hot glass.

🍂 Fall

Stretch watering intervals as light fades and stop feeding.

❄️ Winter

Rest it cool, bright, and nearly dry. A monthly drink is usually plenty.

🌱 Spring

Resume normal watering as growth restarts, and press any winter-dropped beads into the soil to fill bare spots.

The details

Light & placement

Light: Bright light with several hours of gentle direct sun (morning is ideal); stretches and sheds in dim spots
Ideal PPFD: 300–600 µmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹
Grow-light distance: 12–18 in below LED

Water & feed

Watering method: Soak-and-dry: drench until it drains, then let the soil dry out completely. When in doubt, wait, because those plump beads are a built-in canteen.
Fertilizer: Cactus/succulent feed at ½ strength, ~1–2× in spring–summer; none in winter.

Home & habit

Soil: Gritty, fast-draining cactus/succulent mix; pH 6.0–7.0
Humidity: Low; tolerates dry air (30–40%)
Temperature: 60–80 °F; tolerates cool, dry winters
Mature size: Tails trail 2–4 ft over years
Repotting: Rarely, every 3+ yrs; each move costs a rain of leaves
Propagation: Every dropped leaf can root. Let leaves or stem cuttings callus 2–3 days, then set on dry succulent mix.

When something looks wrong

Overwatering signs: Mushy, translucent beads that drop in clumps; blackened stems; rot at the crown
Underwatering signs: Wrinkled, deflated beads; dull color
Common pests: Mealybugs, aphids, scale

Care notes: The leaves fall off if you so much as look at it sideways, so hang it somewhere it will never be brushed, and rotate or move it as little as possible. Overwatering, not leaf drop, is what actually kills it.

Common problems 🩺

The usual suspects when Burro's Tail looks unhappy. Most houseplant trouble is watering or light, not disease — see all plant problems if you are not sure which plant is the culprit.

Beads falling off at the slightest touch

Likely cause
Completely normal — the leaves are designed to detach and root where they land.

What to do
Site it somewhere it will not get brushed past, and handle it as little as possible. Fallen beads root easily.

Mushy stems near the soil

Likely cause
Overwatering.

What to do
Gritty mix, and water only when the beads start to look slightly soft.

Sparse strands with gaps between leaves

Likely cause
Not enough light.

What to do
Bright light with a few hours of gentle direct sun.

More like this 🌿

Golden Pothos

Arrowhead Plant

Creeping Fig

English Ivy

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